Shuttle box and shuttle for filling replenishing looms



Oct. 28, 1952 J. M. JENKINS 2,615,476

SHUTTLE BOX AND SHUTTLE FOR FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed March 1, 1950 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 1 9 62 57 Z .90 7 26 94 a2 f 95 i; I v

:[qmss M. JENKINS, INVENTOR.

BY gin +@1ZC/ ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1952 J. M. JENKINS 2,615,476

SHUTTLE BOX AND SHUTTLE FOR FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed March 1, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET '2 J ES MJENKINS 4 O 22 AM INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1952 SHUTTLE BOX 'AND SHUTTLE FOR-FILLING REPLENISHING LQOMS g James M. Jenkins, Kannapolis, 0., assignor of one half to Claude 0. Blott, QoncorrLN c.

Application March 1,1950,'Se rial No.147, 081 y ,2 claims? (01. 139 -1833 This invention relates to an improvement in h t e boxes for filling replenishing looms and more-especially to an improved shuttle box front and an improved shuttle, the shuttle .box front and th shuttle having cooperating elements thereon for retaining outgoing weft yarn from the shuttle in a desired position to insure proper engagement thereof by the conventional type of yarn clamp and cutter mechanism during a bobbin transfer operation.

This invention is adapted to be associated with a filling clamping and cutting mechanism of 'a type such as is shown in the patent to A. E. Stafford, No. 1,552,388 of September 1, 1925, but is not restricted to use with this particular type of clamping and cutting apparatus.

It is well known to those familiar with the art, that shuttles used with looms of the filling replenishing type are provided with an opening at one side thereof which coincides with an opening of similar dimensions in the usual type of shuttle box front when the shuttle is in th shuttle box. Upon a filling replenishing operation taking place, the usual type of clamping and cutting device moves into an operative position, that is, the device enters the coinciding openings-in the shuttle and shuttle box front and simultaneously grasps the outgoing yarn, which extends from the shuttle to the adjacentselvage of the cloth, as it passes the opening in the shuttle to 'hold one portion of the yarn while severing another portion thereof to permit the spent bobbin to be discharged from the shuttle as a filled bobbin rewoven with the result that, upon the transferoperation taking place, the weft 'yarn will, at times, be disposed at a lwer elevation than the clamping and cutting mechanism as it enters the coinciding openings in the shuttle and the shuttle box front. g

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide cooperating means on the shuttle box front and the proximate surface of the shuttle when the shuttle is boxed, which will insure that the outgoing weft yarn from the shuttle eye will not only remain taut but will also retain its desired elevation across the openings in the shuttle and the shuttle box front.

Itis another object of this invention to provide;

in a loom'having a shuttle box, a shuttle box front adapted to be secured to the shuttle box and a shuttle adapted to be received and discharged from the shuttle box,- the shuttle box front, and the shuttle having coinciding, :openings therein past which the outgoing weft yarnfrom the shuttle is adapted {to be disposed ,upon the shuttle being boxed, said shuttle having a smooth imper forate area between its shuttle eye and the opening, the opening being adapted to accommodate the usual typeof filling clamping and cutting ings in the shuttle and the shuttle box front, and i the leaf spring member also serving tov retain tautness of the yarn upon the shuttle rebounding following its being boxed and causing.v the loose portion of1theweft yarnresulting from the rethe shuttle eye and the opening which is adapted bounding ofthe shuttle to be disposed between toreceive the cla'mping'andcutting apparatus to insure. proper engagementv with the weft yarn by the clamping and cuttingv apparatus.

Some of the objects-1 of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure '1' isxa. topnplanview of a shuttle. box showing a shuttle therein; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the shuttlebox and shuttle shown inFigure 1 Figure 3 isan enlarged sectional plan view of the shuttle and the boxfront with parts broken away taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2 but omittingother parts of the shuttle box;

front and inner end of the improved shuttle;

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the shuttle box front shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and looking at the inner and upper surfaces and the replenishing mechanism anda clamping and cuti ting mechanism associated'therewith", this clamp Figure 4 is an isometric view showing the top,

end l2 by a bolt [8. The lay end 12 has a slot 17 therein in which a conventional. picker stick. 29 has longitudinal sliding 'movemen'ti. and on which a picker 2| is mounted, the picker 2| being adapted to engage and throw -ai-shuttle broadlyfl designated at 22 out of the shuttle box 13 and to be engaged by a hunter on the lay [0 in the usual manner when filling replenishing is caused.

Disposed below the transfer arm 34, in Figure 6, is the usual type of thread clamp and cutter, the nose of which is indicated at 4B and which includes means, as is clearly shown in said Patent No. 1,552,388, for clamping and cutting the outgoingweft yarn 25 extending. from: the shuttle 222 It is well-known that'this'clamp and cutter mechanism is mounted in such a manner as to be operable simultaneously with movement of across the lay In. An improved-shuttle-boxfront 23 is secured to the upper surface of the lay end 52, as by screws 24.

There are many types of shuttle boxes and box fronts which. may be. used association. with the present. invention, and, although the shuttle box l3? shown; in Figures li and 20f the type suchuas. is employed inassociation with a filling replenishing.loom theshuttleboxi I3, the shuttle 22 and: the shuttle box 23 should not be restricted to atypeemployedin a filling replenishing loom since. the features of. this invention maybe employedlin association with pick and pick box looms or. shuttle changing. looms. or. any other type of loom wherein a shuttle is: employed and isiprojected across; thei'lay of; the loom to be received by shuttle boxes at. opposed; ends thereof.

However this. invention does: relate to. the particular feature of) the. shuttle 22. in combination with the boxlfront 23-which: includes means for holding. the outgoingweft yarn fromrthe shuttle 22 tautso asto cause the. yarn. to; remain in an elevated. position as it passes the usual opening provided in shuttle box fronts ofithe type adapted to be: associatedLwith. filling replenishing: looms so the. thread. clamp and cutter: apparatus. may engage this. portion; of. the...outg-oing= weft yarn.

The shuttle in Figures 1,.2 and: 4:has.a bobbinor': quill 25. thereinfrom: which. weft yarn-26 is drawn.

through the. usual shuttle eye and this. shuttle as: well as the shuttle box-front.-2 3 will belater described in detail.

- Now,. since the. shuttle. and the. box: front 23 are adapted. to be associated.withthe filling replenishingl type of loomithereis showminzEigure 6 a fragmentary elevation. of a portion of the:

usual: type of. bobbin. transfer mechanismand the clamp and cutter mechanism,..this. clamping and cutting; mechanismv being clearly shown and described in said PatentNd 1,552,388. Thetransfer mechanism shown in Figure 6 includes the usual,

hopper or magazine 32 for holdingv a series of filling carriers or quills 3|, these quills being identical to the quill 25.. shown inthe shuttle 22. The hopper shown is of the rotary type but the invention is'not restricted thereto as any form of filling supply hopper may be employed, the rotary type being shown merely for the convenienceof' the transfer arm 34. during a transfer operation s'o-as tcenter the openings provided therefor, to be presently described, in the shuttle box front A 23 and in the sh-uttle 22 to thus clamp and cut th'eyarn from theejected bobbin upon the new bobbin or quill. being inserted in the shuttle 22 Of course, the clamping automatically operable in the usual manner to move out of operatingposition duringthe interim between quill transfer operations.

'Iheshuttlev 22 is of: the usual Well knownconstruction and isof the type having. a body portion 15- which is usually of wood construction and which is provided with metallic pointed end portions 46 and M suitably secured thereto. The body portion of the shuttle 22 has the usual slot d8 therein into which the filled bobbin 25 is adapted to be projected. upon a transfer operation andthrough which the preceding or spent bobbin is projected upon beingv discharged in the usual manner when the transfer operation takes place as shown in Figured. I

The shuttle also includes the usual type of spring loaded clamp members 52- and 53' which clampingly engagethe head of the bobbin 25 to hold it in the desired; positionin the-shuttle 22. The shuttle has a conventional metallic shuttle eye member. 55 therein of the;.usual construction and which is secured therein by a bolt 56 extendingtransversely through thebody of theshuttle 22. The shuttle 22-. has a shuttle eye opening 51 (Figures 31 and 4) through which the weft yarn 26 is adapted to be pulled with movement of the shuttle 22 across the lay as the yarn; is unwound. from the bobbin :25 and; as it passes through the shuttle eye member The body 45 of the shuttle 22 is also provided with the usual thread. groove 68 which extends substantially the entire length of the: shuttle 22 but which does not extend all the way to the shuttle eye opening: 51 as has heretofore beenthe case, the fact that this groove 60 does-not extend the full length of the shuttle 20:being one of the features of the present invention.

Now, if so desired,. the shuttle eye member 55. may be secured in the. shuttle 22 by meansothen than thebolt 56. However, since this is the usual manner in which the shuttle eye member: 55 is secured in the: shuttle 22, the shuttle isc'ounter bored, as at 6! so the head of the bolt'tl will be disposed a substantial distance inwardly of the: outer surface of the body portion 15' of the shuttle 22 and 'this'counterbore-GI- is then filled with a suitable filling material 62 such as plastic, wood filler, or anyother desiredmaterial. The shuttle'22 also provided with the usual thread clamp and cutter'openingfi and the outer surface of the body 45 of the shuttle 22 between the opening 63 and the shuttle eye opening 57 is.

sanded smooth so as to'provide a smooth. surface, indicated generally at 64, past which theoutgoing weft'yarn2li-will' extend as. the shuttle movesxfrom left .to right: in Figures. 1, 2 and. 3.

upon being. boxed in the shuttle box l3. 7

. The body of the shuttle-22 also has a cavity- 10 therein adjacent the clamping and cutting opening 63 but disposed to that side of the openin 63 remote from the shuttle eyeopening 51,

this cavity 10 preferably being of greater depththan thegroove 60.

The bottom of the cavity 10 adjacent the open The pin-'H projects outwardly to where its outerend is coincident with the outer means surface of the shuttle body 45. It will be observed in Figure 3 that this pin or projection H will assist in supporting the outgoing weft yarn 26 adjacent the opening 63 in the shuttle 22.

Now, it is well known that, upon the shuttle being thrown into the shuttle box l3, it engages and moves the picker 2| along with the picker stick outwardly to adjacent the right-hand end of the shuttle box 13 and will, in most instances, rebound immediately upon the picker stick 2!) reaching the end of its outward movement. In order to prevent the outgoing weft yarn 26 from kinking and also to assist in holding that portion of the outgoing yarn 26,- between the shuttle eye opening 51 and the adjacent selvage of the fabric being woven, taut so as to extend across the shuttle opening 63, I have provided improvements in the shuttle box front 23 to be presently described.

The shuttle box front shown in Figures '1, 2, 3 and 5 may be of any usual construction adapted to be associated with a filling replenishing loom with the exception of the features of the present invention which will be later described. In the present instance, the box front comprises an I outer end portion 15 provided with a suitable opening 16 therethrough for reception of the thread clamp and cutter mechanism shown in said patent and also appearing in Figure 6 of the present drawings and the opening 63 in the shuttle 22 coincides with this opening 16 when the shuttle 26 is boxed as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. vThe shuttle box front 23 also has a longitudinally extending and upwardly and inwardly curving slot 'I'l therein which curves upwardly to the upper surface of the shuttle box front 23 to form an inner end portion 80 as well as upper and lower longitudinally extending portions 8| and 82. The portions 62 and 80 have a longitudinally extending thread groove 82a therein through which the yarn extends from the boxed shuttle 22 to the fabric, not shown.

If so desired, the shuttle box front 23 may have a suitable liner 83, of leather or similar material suitably secured to the inner surface of the inner'end portion 80 thereof to absorb the shock of the shuttle 22 as it enters the shuttle box l3.

This particular shuttle box front 23 is also shown as being provided with the usual projections 85 and' 86 which are generally termed as thread catchers, and which are conveniently provided for engaging the new filling as the lay It] moves forwardly at the first pick movement following a bobbin transfer operation.

The structure of the shuttle box front 23 heretofore described is that of the typical shuttle box'front and it is with this type of shuttle box front that part of the present invention is adapted to be associated.

The outer end portion 15 (Figures 3 and 5) of 6' the shuttlebox fr'ont.23 "has anlelongatedl cavity 96 'on the inner surface thereof whichextends incsubstantially the samehorizontal plane as thesaidgroove 820, on the inner surface of the shuttle box front 23. A resilient thread clamp in the form of a relatively thin leaf spring member 9| .is secured in the cavity SN] by any suitable means such as screws 92 (Figure 3). Since the. cavity 90 communicates with the opening 16 in the outer end portion 1-5of the shuttle box'front 23','the leaf spring member 9| is bent or curved forwardly as at 94, this forwardly curved portion 94"extending-partially into-the opening 16 in the shuttle box front 23 so as to permit the' leaf spring member 9| to be flexed forwardly When desired against the bottom surface of the cavity. 1; a I

It will be observed, 'in Figure 3, that the cavity and the leaf spring member 9| coincide with p the outer end of the shuttle 22 when it is in boxed position as shown in Figures 1 and'3 and the inthejleaf springmember 9| clamping the same against the smooth surface 64 of the shuttle.

Thus, upon the shuttle rebounding following a boxing operation, theyarn-wi-ll be held against the flat surface of the shuttle body 45 closely adjacent the opening 63 in the shuttle '22 and the yarn will then slacken, as at 95, between the shuttle opening'63 and the shuttle eye opening 51 to thus prevent the yarn 26 from becoming kinked throughout its length between the shuttle eye opening 51 and the selvage of the fabric not shown. This will also insure that the yarn 26 will extend across the openings 63 and 16 in the shuttle 22 and the shuttle box front 23, respectively, so the clamp and cutter nose 40 (Figure 6), moving into operative position through the openings 76 and 63, will properly engage the yarn 26. 1

It might be stated that the tension of the leaf spring clamping member Si is relatively light and is not of sufiicient strength to exert such a pressure on the yarn 26 as to part the same as the shuttle is boxed and will also permit the shuttle and its yarn 26 to leave the shuttle box l3 without severing the yarn 26.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

Iclaim:

1. An improved shuttle and shuttle box front combination for looms, said loom' being provided with a lay and also having a shuttle box on at least one end of said lay and being provided with a picker stick having a picker thereon adapted to be engaged by the shuttle as the shuttle is thrown into the shuttle box and also to throw the shuttle out of the shuttle box across the lay,

said shuttle having a quill having weft yarn an mate boxed; i'nzthez shuttle :box :andfithrough-whicha the yarmclamping? andacuttmga apparatus isi'adapted to; extend: during; a.-: transfer operation said shuttle having axe-smooth flatsurface: on its side adj aeent: the; shuttle box front1a-nd*disposed.;be tween the eye of the shuttle. and the 'openingfin the: side of thershuttle; said improvement CDm-r prisingi a; leaf spring.- memben secured to the shuttle boxwfronti and. the; free end; of s the leaf spring: member being; adapted to: engage the smooth flat-surface on the: shuttle when the shuttle.-- iS*bOXE-d,:.a': projection on said? shuttle disposezion the; opposite side of the openingfrom which: theijflat surface-1: is: disposed andewheliebyg. upon. thei'shuttle rebounding; following; a boxing operation, the Weft yarn extending: from-the shuttle will be supported by the projection-Hat one-side of: the opening and by the leaf spring member. pressingv the-yarnagainst the flat surface of the shuttle at the other side of theopening: to-vproper-iy position the yarn for engagement by the yarn clamphxga-nd'cutting'apparatus.

2; An improvement in; a loom having a: lay; andbeing provided with. a shuttle box; having afizshuttle-box. irontlon at least-one end-of said lay and said loom also having a yarn clamping and cutting apparatus, and" having a shuttle adapted to: be-boxect inthe shuttle loom; said shuttleand said shuttle box front having. openings therein which coincidev with each other when the shuttle is in boxed position, said shuttle" 8: having a shuttle 1 eye: therein: through". 1 which' a weft yarniis 1 adapted; to pass; the: improvement comprising said; shuttlez eye; being: in: the same horizontal plane fl'SzthB' opening-1m the shuttle and being spaced therefrom, said shuttleihaving alongitudinally extendingcavity therein having one:- end: thereof in communication with. said opening in the shuttle, said cavitymhavingia projection. therein adapted 'to' support; the 'weft yarn extending from: the: shuttle eye; and said shuttleboxfront having; a: spring; member adapted. to engage-the weft yarn 1 andto hold the. same. against the," shuttle at. a point between the openingin the shuttle and the shuttleeye-to permit the clamping and cutting apparatus: to; extend through the: coinciding: openings; in the shuttle and shuttle-box frontto. clamp; and cut the yarn during a transfer operation.v

JAMES M. JENKINS;

' REFERENCES CITED The-following references are. of record in the file": of this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS Number 7 Name Date 958,688,- Ballou May 17, 1910' 1,278,79e-g Smith .Ju1y 23, 1918 1,376,949 Lavalle' May 3 1921 1,727,315 Warren e Sept. 3,1929 2,566,530v Nichols Sept. 4;; 1951. 

